Ulnar nerve neuritis begins with a little bit of tingling in the little and ring fingers especially when placing the elbow on arm rests in cars or on a chair.
Symptom of Ulnar Neuritis
Symptoms of Ulnar Neuritis can get worse whereby serious nerve injury can occur at the elbow level and even damaging the nerve causing permanent paralysis.
Causes of Ulnar Neuritis
Ulnar Neuritis at the elbow is caused by compression or irritation of the ulnar nerve as it runs behind the elbow joint. Fibrosis of the ulnar nerve or ulnar nerve palsy may result from osteoarthritic or rheumatoid narrowing of the ulnar groove behind the medial epicondyle of the humerus or by direct compression by rheumatoid nodules.
Treatment of Ulnar Neuritis
As a treatment of Ulnar Neuritis it is recommended:
- Avoid local repetitive trauma – consider using protective elbow pads.
- Avoid elbow flexion in the short term (not for chronic cases).
- Injections of LA / steroid may help either in the ulnar groove or between the two heads of flexor carpi ulnaris. Beware local nerve injury by the needle.
- Surgery – moving the nerve out of the groove and into the front part of the elbow joint may help.
Ulnar Neuritis Specialist
Dr Mathew Tung, Nerve Specialist
Dr Kevin Yip, Orthopaedic Specialist
